Animated show-card mechanism



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,269

J. H. GERAGHTY ANIMATED SHOW CARD MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 12, 1924 Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. GERAGHTY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ANIMATED SHOW-CARD MECHANISM.

Application filed December 12, 1924.

The main object of this invention is to provide an electrical motive device to 0perate animated show cards; to provide a simple electrical device adapted for direct connection on commercial electrical circuits and capable of application to oscillating show cards; to provide a device in which the elect ical circuit is in an open position when the show card is at rest; to provide an electrical driving device which will deliver an impulse to the oscillating mechan sm at the position where the impulse gives the maximum swing; to provide an electronotive device which is, by a single adjust ment, usable on both direct and alternating entcircuits; and to provide a simple, -:pensive and reliable construction in which the fire hazard is reduced to a mini.-

mum.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the following drawings, in which- Fi 1 is a "face view of the driving mechanism with a link for attachment to the driven device.

2 is a top view of the electromotive device.

The illustrative embodiment as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a board 1 upon which is mounted a pivot 2 which carries a horizontal member 3 on which is mounted an electrical. contact of carbon 4, which is supported by a bracket 5. On the pivot 2 is :nispended a compound pendulum 6. This compound pendulum is made of high grade ironot high permeability. The compound pendulum. carries at its upper end a carbon contact 7 soldered to the compound pendulu The compound pendulum provided with a sleeve, not shown, at the center or suspen for the purpose of maintaining alineine t and to insure'good electrical contact be veen the pivot and the pendulum. pound pendulum so nearly balnucezl taat period of oscillation is very short. The pendulum is an iron bar uni in cross section throughout its length, T-oJiinately five inches long, with the center ot suspension about three-tenths of its total length from one end, giving a period oscillation between one-quarter and one-third of one second. At auslight angle from the vertical position of the compound pendulum there is secured a core 8 of an electromagnet 9. The electromagnet is Serial No. 755,588.

supported on a bracket 10 which forms a support on theboard 1. A horse shoe frame 11 surrounds the coil forming an iron clad magnet when current is passed through the coil. Between the vertical plane of the compound pendulum and the plane oi the face of the iron clad magnet there is placed. a removable metal plate 12 which is soldered or brazed on the end of the handle 13 which is held by f *iction in a wooden block 14 secured to the board 1. The handle 13 consists of a rod passing through a bore or opening in the wooden block 1 1 and having its outer end bent at right angles as shown to provide a grip. The plate 12 which is secured to the inner end of the handle 13 is oi? a length to extend into the path of the swinging armature as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing and when it is arranged in such position it will limit the swing of the armature 6. lVhen, however, the plate 12 is swung downwardly "from the position shown in Fig. 1 by a. partial rotation of the handle 13 the said plate 12 will be carried out of the path of the armature 6 and the latter will be permitted a free swinging movement will enable the electro-inagnet to exert a longer pull on the armature and impart a greater movement to the pivoted member 3 than when the plate 12 is turned to a vertical position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. his device for limiting the swing of the pivoted armature and for permitting a tree swin r or the same will enable the clectro-nio' vc device hv a single adjustment to be usable on either a direct or an alternating current circuf By manipulation of the handle 13, the metal plate 12 can be turned to such a position that it will allow a free swing of the pendulum to the face of the electroinagnet. The main circuit conun'ises leads 1-1 and 15, the lead 1 1 being connected to the solenoid coil 9 and the pivot 2. The electrical carbon contact 41: is. soldered to the bracket 5 and there is connected to the bracket a metallic chain 16, this chain carrying with it a fine whisker wire 1?. This wireis connected to the lead wire 15. To the wooden arm 3 is connected a. link 18. I the main oscillating member 19 which is slutiported on a pivot 20. Adjustable counter poises 21 and 22 provide for a perfect balance of the animated show card mechanism which is attached to the oscillating member This link 18 operates llll) 19. The balancing of the weights 21 and 22 also provides for the adjustment of the working position of the wooden arm 3.

In the device as described in its standing position, no current will pass through the coil, since with the compound pendulum in its normal position, there is no contact between the two carbon contacts. In operation, the device is manually started by swinging the arm 19, with a comparatively slow period oscillating show card mechanism attached. l l hen the wooden arm 3 is raisedthrough the action of the link 18 to the position where the carbon contacts touch, then current will pass through the coil 9 and there will be produced a magnetic flux through the core and the shield, the field of which will extend to the compound pendulum 6. The tractive effort of the electromagnet will draw the compound pendulum toward it, resulting in a mechanical thrust communicated to the lever arm 3 through the carbon contact 4. The period of the compound pendulum is so short that its thrust action will take place in not less than one-sixth of a second after the electrical circuit is closed and the thrust action continues until the electrical circuit is automatically opened by the slow sving of the show card. lVhen the compound pendulum reaches a. predetermined position, the tractive effort is delivered to the animated show card, which will open the electrical circuit at the contact between the two carbons, thereby cutting off the magnetic action of the solenoid 9 and the compound pendulum quickly returns to its original position and stands in that position until the animated show card, on its return swing, arrives at the position where the carbon contacts coact. One of the causes of failure of devices where there is relative motion between two parts is that a flexible conduction must be maintained. In this invention we have'found that a woven chain carrying a whis rer wire provides a lasting conduction between the moving show card element and the leading in wire. I In case of mechanical or electrical failure, any stoppage of the device results in an open circuit between the carbon contacts which will cut oil the electrical current from the electromagnet.

Gne of the main features of my invention comprises the comparatively quick action and positive mechanical thrust given by the compound pendulum to the oscillating memtit) bers of the animated show card device.

.A-ilthough but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood the numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. in an animated advertising display. card a driving mechanism comprising a solenoid, a core for said solenoid, a compound pendulum comprising an armature hanging on a pivot, magnetic flux from said pound through the tractive effort of said electromagnet, themechanical thrust of said compound pendulum being communicated to the animated show card by force exerted through said electrical contacts.

2. in an animated show card an oscillating member of long perioo, an electrical driving unit comprising a compound pen dulum of short period, an armature forming part 01" said compound pendulum, circuit closing contact moans attached to said lating means and said'compound pendulum,

an electromagnet in series with said circuit closing means. said armature positioned in the field of said electromagnet and timed to give quick thrust near the center of swing of said slow oscillating member, lead wires, and a flexible chain conductor connecting said oscillating member to one of said lead wire I 3.511 an animated show card an oscillat ing member having a period of one second or more and an electrical dri unit com prisin a compound pendu wm hr. a period of one-third second or less, an arn'iature forming integral part or" said compound pendulum, carbon contacts on bot said oscillating member and said compo pci'idulum,niain circuit leads, a flexible chain conductor connecting the carbon contact of said oscillating m mber and one oi l leads, an iron clad electromagnet in ser' with said carbon c ntacts, said carbon contacts at open circuit position when said oscillating member is at position ot rest, said armature positioned near said electromagiet and timed to give a. mechanical thrust near the center of swing to said oscillating member, manually operated means a ranging from A. C. to D. C. service, and linirage between said oscillating member and said driving unit.

Signed at Chicago this 10th December 1924.

day of JOHN H. GERAGHTY. 

